ORIGIN

14k-Mile 1974 Chevrolet Blazer 4×4 Survivor

This 1974 Chevrolet Blazer 4×4 is said to have all original paint and 14k miles from new. The ad is from the Sunday of auction week, so we suspect that it did not sell to any out-of-towners and there may now be some negotiating room. Find it here on Craigslist in Phoenix, Arizona for $29k. Special thanks to BaT reader Ben S. for this submission!

Let me set the stage. The year is 1974. The year I was born. The year my old man brought home a duplicate of this truck (except in the much more beautiful, to my young taste, bright orange and white combo; let’s all agree we’re here because we like cool, old, used cars and trucks which means we rarely get to have the color we want off the showroom floor when we look at them). My old man is, and always has been, a car guy but when his growing family needed a bigger car than the 1972 LeMans that he had traded his first car (a black 1967 corvette; yes, that is a story for another occasion) on, he left the final details in the hands of his car dealer friend. “What do you mean you don’t know how much it will cost?” my mom asked. “I don’t know. John said he would take care of us,” was my old man’s reply. (Of course, the sharp ones out there will realize that as I was born in 1974, this is all hearsay and based on what my old man has told me, but since when do we ever let the truth get in the way of a good story?) He brought home a bright orange and white 1974 K5 Blazer with the Cheyenne package. Gen-U-ine tan Naugahyde. Just like this one. Man I loved that truck! My first car memories (and likely what has started me on a long road to being a car guy) were with that truck and the old man. He would sit my brother and I up on the inner fender and we would “help” tinker. We put headers, a carb advance kit, and dual exhaust on it, and my childhood memory could be wrong here, but damn that truck was fast…and loud. My brother and I both took naps in the back on trips (don’t judge; it was the 70’s), and we each got our turn behind the wheel way before the age of ten. Back in the day, you could drive on the beach at Cape Hatteras (“best fishin’ on the East Coast, boys”) and the Outer Banks. We would air the tires down and take turns sitting in the old man’s lap “keeping it in the tire tracks” as he worked the pedals. Never let us down. At some point in a responsible effort to save some money, the old man put tiny, donut tires on it. It looked ridiculous and my brother and I still bust his chops 30 years later. Twelve years on and the tin worm had started to take over the tail gate and doors and, as my mom was the primary driver of it at that point, we got her something more reliable, less prone to having the door glass fall off the track if the door was slammed too hard, and a bit better on gas. I sat in that truck at the dealership and cried the day we traded it on a 1986 Honda Civic. (My old man at least somewhat redeemed himself that year when he got a 1966 corvette which he still has to this day. In fact, that’s the car that my brother and I both learned to drive stick on. Like I said, he’s a car guy, and a pretty cool one at that.) The price? Well, again, we aren’t buying these cool old cars we like off the showroom floor, so price is what someone will pay and this is pretty high. Rust has gotten ahold of a lot of these and unmolested examples are hard to come by. I look all the time and this one is way out of my price range. At half this price, I’d probably be in…and (gasp) I’d take it to a maaco and paint that “sunset gold” bright orange. I’d go pick up the old man, and we’d drive on down to Hatteras and go fishing. If you’ve made it this far, thanks for letting a car guy reminisce a bit. That’s who will buy this truck (admittedly probably not at this price). And that’s why it’s featured here. Man, I loved that truck! Thanks, BAT, and all the regulars that chime in on a daily basis and drop a little knowledge on the cool, old cars and trucks that keep us coming back. Brian

Varjak;strictly the looks,the 67-72 series is just a great look.I prefer the GMC version with the dual headlights on each side.Both the GMC and Chevs are very popular in those years particularly after 1970 when the front brakes became discs.For the Ford guys,I think 78 or 79 was “the” year.

@Varjak – The ’71 – ’72 is the last, and arguably best looking, of the body style prior to the ’73+ “boxy” body style. These also had the fully removable convertible hard top, and I know the pickups of that era used a more sophisticated coil-spring/truck arm rear suspension vs. the leaf springs used on the ’73+, I believe this same suspension was used on the Blazer but it’s been too many years since I peaked underneath one. For me, and I think alot of folks, the ’73+ brings back fond memories, but the ’71-’72 is more desired…there is a definite price jump up for earlier models. Jeff

The first car I ever drove was a clone of this one, down to the ’70s color scheme! We were off road in the dunes on Cape Cod, and my Dad let me drive for a couple miles, as there was nothing for me to hit. Aired down, and I didn’t get stuck — not bad for a 12-year old kid. But the price of this one? Meh.

If you open/close those doors another ‘fifteen’ more cycles they will be a droopin like Ma Kettle’s boobs.

I have owned this era chebby truck -the doors need gas cylinders under the sills or bungees over the roof and that is on the closed roof version.

This vehicle is in my ‘neighborhood’- we got em like this squirrelled away out in Wrinkle City, Q-Tip Town and Blue Hair Village – imagine – they come up for sale every year over the MLK Day weekend??..?? but is it a COPO or a Yenko tribute??? dude that is bitchin’!! Hell we even stick Tejas plates on them for ‘cowboy bling’ -tejas – truck -123-abc

This is a flipper price. Sad to say someone will probably pay it though. There’s a car sucker born every day.

I do like this blazer though. Reminds me my buddy getting more traction in his 73 blazer then he bargained for while we were trying to climb a hill. We ended up 5 feet off the top of the lip and came down so hard the transfer case dented the floor. The doors never closed the same after that little incident.

Like many i’d rather have a ’72, but i have to remind the detractors this one is 40 years old and is in apparently incredible condition. Someone with a thick wallet who has fond memories of some kind involving one similar to this will shell out a tall dollar for it. I tend to be a Ford truck guy but have had them all and these Chevys and their pickup truck brethren have soldiered on for a lot of miles all over the country. Good find BaT. Gltbs

I just sold a ’77 GMC in no where near as nice a shape, but still good. Anyway, looking at the interior, wow, is this thing ever minty clean..

As far as them being unreliable, really doubt that kind of blanket statement except for perhaps those from the very late 70’s and early 80’s due to their primitive, transitional emission controls & fuel economy driven design upgrades. Early ones like this are really quite simple and tough trucks that are easy to keep going for a long time. Beware of body & tailgate rust.

One nice thing is parts availability is very good today. They’re big gas hogs but any potential buyer would realize that long before stepping forward with any benjamins.

Can’t get my mind around the asking price though…. Maybe if $7.5k+ less?

detroitxj;shoot your mailing address to my emailmainlymuscle@telus.net I will send you a calender.As for the continued non-constructive drivel from the above ,today is one of those rare days when I am not proud to be a Canadian.

You guys have been on fire today about this little ol’ Blazer. What I think really make the early SUV is the classic wooden compass. I could just see old pops, buying the Blazer and going by Pep Boys to get the compass. Maybe it was mail ordered from Cabella’s or L.L. Bean.

That is worth a $10k premium for sure. The more I look at it and the market, $29k is just crazy money, but damn if it may not be worth close to that. I said earlier it was a $19-21, but that little compass has me second guessing.the interior is spectacular. The engine compartment is classic 70’s as new. Someone on here please buy it and gloat like the twitter tipper guy who posted pics of his $5k and $10k tips during NCAA football. it is just an Amex black card away from a new climate controlled garage ;-)

mx5, he said nothing personal to you. Your ego is out of control if someone not agreeing with you, means they made it personal.

If you don’t get this vehicle, i think you can make the argument you do not get cars, or trucks. Not for you, but if you cant see how others would like it, it speaks volumes about you.

Also your indictment of outdated tech and “forgotten tech” damns all but the most high end, newest cars. You just crapped on 99% of the cars on this site that were not 20 years ahead of their time. So basically this site can have porsche 959s, some tuckers, a few test vehicles and concept cars. Nothing else is worth a crap.

Chop windshields at any matching point that retains the top edge. Weld in.

Doors are trickier. If you wish to keep a hardtop, you’ll need donors (unless repro have come to market recently) however you only need the top sill so even doors from the rust belt are useful. If you are going with a soft top you can often keep the post 75 doors.

I’ve seen guys massage the metal work on post 75 doors but that is A LOT of work.

If you are going soft top you can ditch the HEAVY tailgate (and make a good few bucks selling it) and replace it with any contemporary pickup tailgate, it is a direct bolt in.

Trim bits and any required seals; LMC.com.

Knowhow; ck5.com

For what it’s worth most everyone ditches the OEM top in favour of a bikini top, a soft top or nothing at all. They are very heavy, hard to store and regardless of your intentions otherwise, rarely make it back onto the vehicle LOL.

OK Bobsyouruncle, now I am really intrigued. How do you do the conversion? Just chop off the cab and trade the doors? How do you deal with the top of the windshield? Now I really want to do this. Where can you get doors besides originals? Does anyone repro those? Seems like the post 75 trucks are a lot less expensive and more years to pick from. Which years can you use?

I love that argument, Car X is a complete POS and absolutely worthless. As a buyer, does this work as a strategy? Do people actually reply, “Oh, thank you for setting me straight, I had no idea this car was worth nothing at all. Would you mind horribly if I asked you to just dispose of it properly since you’re so knowledgeable?”

Randy the answer to your dilemma is that Ron has no idea what he’s talking about.

With the same 1/2 ton drive train, suspension, and (essentially) frame as well as interior as a contemporary (73-88 or 91) Pickup or Suburban, the platform has certainly proven itself.

I’ve owned a 75 and currently own a 76, additionally I’ve owned an 88 and 89 ‘Burb. I’d agree that the value seems high but only because it is EXTREMELY easy to piece one together with the limitless source of parts available used or repro.

In fact the 75 I owned donated doors, top and windshield frame (my second set of both) for an eventual transplant to a post 75. This is a very easy conversion.

So unless you feel the need to own a pre 75 VIN the cost of purchasing this would seem foolish in my opinion. Though if you DO this is surely one of the best of the last.

If the discussion turns to off road performance potential I’LL chime in again.

I dont get it. If they were so unreliable, uncomfortable, and poor performing, why on earth would there be “tons” of them surviving on Southwestern second home ranches. You would think the owners of those ranches could afford a decent vehicle. And if you could find these mythical ranches, I am sure the owners would be willing to pay you to haul off these worthless pieces of junk. If they did, you could turn around and sell one of these survivors for a nice profit every day of the week. Call me when you find them (or even one for that matter). I will gladly be your first customer. Sheesh.

These were some of the least reliable, poorest performing, least comfortable vehicles ever made, though I know someone who managed to squeeze a quarter million miles out of one on a couple of engines and trannies. I’m not surprised to see a low mileage one. There are probably a ton of them out there in Southwestern second-home ranches.

These were some of the least reliable, poorest performing, least comfortable vehicles ever made, though I know someone who managed to squeeze a quarter million miles out of one on a couple of engines and trannies. I’m not surprised to see a low mileage one. There are probably a ton of them out there in Southwestern second-home ranches.

yea,nuck,you could do that or you could check out my website and eliminate the guess work. When you come to a vehicle you have no interest in simply don’t click on it.How on earth did I slight you personally?If your taste in autos defines you as a person,then perhaps I did.Your “maybe you should get out more”comment is much more personal.

I’m thinking it would be about a $20K vehicle – although I would be anxious about driving it too much – seems like the low mileage would now be a detriment – Mechanical things usually don’t like sitting FOREVER without being operated – gaskets, bearings, rings etc need at least “some” regular exercise.

But I do appreciate the 70’s vibe with the colors and overall look of the vehicle – perhaps best left to a museum rather than in my grubby, tinkering hands.

A ’76 model in nearly the same colors (the brown was more gold/metallic and had rally wheels) was my first vehicle when I turned 15! It was a blast, kept the top off all summer, “upgraded” to headers, 33’s and white spokes (remember I was 15 and it was 1980!). Loved that truck, my dad did not….two transfer cases and a transmission in two years, 10 MPG. Awesome memories!

Mainlymuscle- my good friend had a blue and white ’72 CST that was so much better looking and was a beast off road!

mx-5,perhaps you should stick to Bimmer magazine and surf the autotrader for camrys and miatas. The Blazer is way overpriced but it is about as loaded as they come,and is rare,pristine and a survivor. And as per Dr.Randy,two tons of fun.

I hate to be the one to stomp on anyones fantasy of finding a low mileage pre-76 Blazer for a low price, but this is the direction the market has been going for years. 75 was the last year for the fully removeable hard top (essentially making it a giant convertible, or a 4×4 with a ton of body flex at the door jambs). In 76 the roof only came off from the cab back (essentially making it a pickup with no rear window and a teeny tiny bed with a seat bolted into it). Neither option was a perfect design decision but I can tell you that the 75 I owned was one of the most fun cars I have ever driven. Paid a grand for it and the day I bought it I unbolted the hard top and it never went back on. Bought a rag top kit from a catalog and only put it on in the dead of winter or in the rain. I was young, gas was cheap, and I could tolerate no AC. It was just a great truck. I would love to own another but over the years I have been watching the ebay listings for these and the prices have just continued to climb. Many, it seems, end up as low rider show trucks or giant monster truck show trucks. They are very capable off road but like I said, without the addition of a cage tying across the door frame, it bends like crazy. 29 K may be all the money but this is a very rare truck in this condition, or any condition for that matter. Any day of the week I can look at a hundred old Triumphs, or MGs or Porsches or Alfas on eBay, but as of this writing, there is exactly one 74 or 75 Blazer on eBay. Its not meeting reserve at 13K with about an hour left and its not nearly as nice as this truck. In a year, this truck will look like a steal if you can get it for 25k. Then drive it. Its not a zero mileage truck and the price is not entirely based on the mileage, more based on the condition, year, and rarity. Fond memories here, wish I could swing this one. That roof would be in my yard in a split second.

Were this a 72,it would be on the way to my house. But,if a frog had wings, it would not have to hop around on its but all day,I am a Chevy guy but would still rather have the Bronco featured here back in November………..for $8500 ! Hey BaT;do you mean flippers in Phoenix try to lure the auction hounds in for overpriced vehicles in January ?? Oh say it isn’t so.

I actually like this truck a lot, and could totally live with the color combination. Even with the low mileage, however, I lose interest past the $18-20k mark. As nice as it is, it will never not be a bone-stock malaise-era Blazer.

My first car was a ’78 Blazer (light blue/white, blue interior), and it was in beautiful shape when I got it (not such good shape when I gave it up a few years later …). So if anyone should be nostalgic for something like this, it should be me … but it isn’t. That Blazer was slow and guzzled gas: I had the 8 cyl. engine and full-time 4WD, and I can’t imagine it had much horsepower at all. I got 8 mpg. Yes, 8 mpg. I remember filling that tank a lot, and because I was young, it put a big dent in my wallet every time I did. Anyway, $29K for something like this is insane. Go buy something better for that kind of dough.

Now that Speed is gone, I had a hard time finding BJ. I finally came across it on Fox Business?!?

I am sure the pricing was over the top, what little I saw, it seems the scale is way out of whack, just like this Blazer. I peg it at $19K, maybe $21. Where are you going to find another unmolested original? Probably nowhere, so if I actually had $29 large for a time capsule, then I would be buying. What would really suck for me, as I would actually drive it semi daily. The sucking sound you would here is money for fuel and depreciation from my pockets.

Texas Farm Truck license plates? hmmm….wonder how long it’s been in Arizona? I like this truck, but not $29K like. Reminds me of my ’76 Suburban, same dash and interior, though mine was a 2WD. My concern here, besides the price, is what one would do with this after purchase. You can’t really use it, not at that price, and if you did you’d probably have to start replacing all the seals and rubber goods. It does have the obligatory compass screwed onto the dashpad, I see… Jeff

If this truck sells anywhere NEAR the asking price, then the whole collector car world has been knocked off of its axis. Of course, I did see an Alfa Montreal sell for $176k (and a $445K Speedster and $1.8M Lancia B24S Spider) at Gooding on Saturday, so it may already be too late.

I actually like the color combo, it definitely won’t be mistaken for another era! I would take it as is. Hard to put a price on something with such low mileage, and as was said these were work horses so there can’t be many around this low mileage and original.

Like other’s I’m not too fond of the colour scheme either, but seeing as we don’t see these colours that often anymore, I could live with it. As to the K’s on the clock, maybe grandpa bought this one new, but used his fleetside (the baby blue one in the background lol) and tractor more on a daily basis, and this just sat? For an Arizona truck, the lack of rust is believable, but the paint not showing any signs of UV deterioration? Under the hood, none of the typical oxidized parts (master cylinder cover, alternator fan/pulley, brake lines, vacuum booster still shows gold anodization)….nothing shoes the age of a nearly 40 year old. Wow. Must have been stored indoors? Nice to see original examples.